Is there anything more fun than dragging your ass out of bed at 6:00am on a Saturday to go and hit up a farmer’s market? Arguably, yes. I’m not a morning person! But once I get to the farmer’s market, my extreme grogginess disappears and it’s all about the food.
Nothing wakes me up better than the mingling smells of fragrant herbs, crisp fresh veggies, sweet piles of fruit, and the bitter undertone of coffee.
These are The Village Markets, so called because they are situated in the Kelvin Grove Student’s Village which is the residential part of the Queensland Uni of Tech.
Actually living on campus is pretty unheard of in Australia; it’s not at all common. We don’t have that many Uni’s so most people just go to the one in their city and rent a place around town. BUT if all the on-campus housing had a sick farmer’s market like this one, I think that could start to change.
What I love about this place is that it was a genuine produce market. Stalls and stalls of beautiful fresh fruit and vegetables, all looking fly and none too expensive, organic meats, fresh bread, and of course a few rows of delicious street-style food.
None of that cheap, crappy clothing and ‘art’ that seem to somehow mushroom up in a lot of markets. But there were actual mushrooms.
These guys are from the Roost Coffee market stall, and since their shopfront is on the other side of town, I always take the opportunity to sample their fine, delicious wares.
It’s just damn fine coffee, as Agent Cooper would say .
After I had collected my flat white and swung by the bakery for a sweet, pretzel-shaped almond danish, I plonked down on a bench for a while to do some solid people watching (market people are the best), getting pastry flakes all over myself.
And when that was over I perfectly tossed my paper bag into the nearest bin (that never happened, I’m unco) picked up my overflowing bag of fresh things and sauntered off home thinking that this whole early-morning thing maybe isn’t so bad! …and then I got back into bed for a few hours.
Tell me about your favourite farmer’s market! I would love to visit a Parisian market, and I hear that California’s got some pretty boss ones!
xx Sarah.
Great photos! I miss daily shopping at the markets in Venice. I used to catch a €2 tra ghetto (gondola ferry) across the grand canal to go to the market and get my fresh fish. It was bliss!
That. Sounds. AMAZING! Can we run away to Venice please?
Superb piccies! I’m a fan of the jan powers Wednesday city markets… But that’s because I’m usually already there and it’s awesome to be able to grab some fresh fruitz and a goat pie for lunch. Or a pretzel.
The Goat Pie Guy is the best, right! And the pretzels.
I try to do my grocery shopping at these markets every week. Without fail I get the roti and chicken curry from the Street St Malaysian stall for breakfast. Was your pretzel-danish as glorious as it looks?
It was pretty awesome, I’m not going to lie! And the roti stall smelled UH MAYZING.
The Orange Grove Markets in Lilyfield here in Sydney are pretty awesome. The bacon and egg roll stand always has a massive queue and the coffee, bread, dips, fresh fruit and veg are always great. Such a cool market – check it out if you’re ever in Sydney :)
Orange Grove Markets – got it! Will do!
OK I’m like seriously in love with all of these photos, but that pretzel danish IS EVERYTHING. Can you air mail me one? Kthanksbye.
Wonderful, photos! You made me want a bowlful of fruit salad :)
MORE TSH ADVENTURES PLEASE! I love this and hope you share more of your bits and bops while out and about.
i love kelvin grove market. and your photos are fab but early mornings? nope not for me.
those eggplants! Those grapes!
I discovered a new market in Boston this weekend, which won me over with an amazing vintage basement (I resisted the full set of Dickens), gorgeous plants, and a cookie truck. So good!
Great photos!
The Union Square Greenmarket in NYC is an amazing place. Thankfully I work nearby so I get to stroll around plenty. My favorite part is watching the produce change with the seasons :)
Me too! There’s nothing nicer than seeing all the summer berries roll in, or all the pumpkins and apples in Autumn. Can we just go to the market everyday, please?
xx
Sarah